Velocity averaging in estuaries characterized by a large tidal range to depth ratio

Abstract

A general procedure to compute net velocity profiles is proposed for estuaries with a large ratio, ε, of tidal range to mean water depth. Such a technique is desirable in view of the continued interest and numerous and varied research efforts in shallow estuarine waters where flow information is essential. Because ε exceeds 0·3 in many coastal plain and bar-built estuaries, problems arise in the computation of time-averaged velocity profiles. However, by non-dimensionalization of the depth before time-averaging, these problems are avoided. Rational procedures for the calculation of flow discharge and flux of dissolved and suspended constituents are also proposed for estuaries with a large ε-ratio. The averaging procedures are illustrated by computations on 561 velocity profiles measured in the Duplin River, a Georgia (U.S.A.) coastal plain estuary with ε = 0·5.